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BackgroundRotavirus is globally recognized as an important cause of acute gastroenteritis in young children. Whereas previous studies focused more on sporadic diarrhea, the epidemiological characteristics of rotavirus outbreaks have not been systematically understood.MethodsThis systematic review was carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis standards, WANFANG, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), PubMed, and Web of Science databases were searched from database inception to February 20, 2022. We used SPSS 21.0 statistical software for data analysis, RStudio1.4.1717, and ArcGIS trial version for plotting bar graphs and maps.ResultsAmong 1,596 articles, 78 were included, with 92 rotavirus outbreaks and 96,128 cases. Most outbreaks (67.39%, 62/92) occurred in winter and spring. The number of rotavirus outbreaks reported in the eastern region was more than that in the western region. Outbreaks were most commonly reported in villages (33/92, 35.87%), followed by hospitals (19, 20.65%). The outbreak duration was longer in factories and workers’ living places, and villages, while it was shorter in hospitals. Waterborne transmission was the main transmission mode, with the longest duration and the largest number of cases. Rotavirus groups were identified in 66 outbreaks, with 40 outbreaks (60.61%) caused by Group B rotaviruses and 26 outbreaks (39.39%) caused by Group A rotaviruses. Significant differences were found in duration, number of cases, settings, population distribution, and transmission modes between Groups A and B rotavirus outbreaks.ConclusionRotavirus is an important cause of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks in China. It should also be considered in the investigation of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks, especially norovirus-negative outbreaks.

The CIE hue angle has significant potential in marine ecology and environment monitoring using remote sensing methods. It is calculated from the remote sensing reflectance (Rrs) of all visible bands, which serves as a comprehensive indicator of seawater radiance information and represents one of the key quantitative parameters for assessing seawater color. In this study, a remote sensing retrieval model of total suspended matter concentration (TSM) was developed using the in situ measured data acquired in the coastal waters of Qinhuangdao from 2013 to 2021. This model, based on the CIE hue angle, achieved performance metrics of R2 = 0.68, MAPE=24.47%, and RMSE=2.72 mg/L, demonstrating better accuracy than traditional empirical models that utilize fewer bands. Based on this model, the monthly and interannual TSM in the coastal waters of Qinhuangdao from 2003 to 2023 were retrieved. Influenced by natural factors, such as the monsoons, the TSM in the coastal waters of Qinhuangdao generally exhibited a trend of first decreasing and then increasing from January to December. Except for certain anomalous years (2007, 2008, 2017, etc.), the overall variation process of TSM from 2003 to 2023 showed an initial increase followed by a decrease, closely related to the pollution reduction management requirements implemented by the Chinese government in different periods. The findings of this paper demonstrate that the coastal waters of Qinhuangdao have become clearer, and the ecological environment has been effectively improved as a result of the Chinese government’s vigorous promotion of ecological civilization construction, adhering to the development concept that ‘lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets’, and by introducing the action plan for the comprehensive treatment of pollution in the Bohai Sea.

IntroductionNucleotide-binding domain (NOD)-like receptors (NLRs) are expressed in the endometrium, and involved in modulating the female innate immune responses. There are conceptus-endometrial interactions during pregnancy, which ensure immune homeostasis of the maternal-fetal interface. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of early pregnancy on NLR expression in the ovine endometrium.MethodsEndometrial tissues were collected at day 16 of the estrous cycle, and at days 13, 16 and 25 of pregnancy (n = 6 for each group), and RT-qPCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis were used to analyze the expression of NLRs, including NOD1, NOD2, major histocompatibility complex class II transactivator (CIITA), neuronal apoptosis inhibitor protein (NAIP), NLR family, pyrin domain-containing 1 (NLRP1), NLRP3 and NLRP7.ResultsExpression levels of NOD1, NOD2, NAIP, CIITA, NLRP1 and NLRP3 declined, but expression level of NLRP7 increased in the endometria during early pregnancy compared with nonpregnant ewes. In addition, NOD2 and CIITA proteins were located in the endometrium in a protein type-, cell type- and pregnancy status-specific manner.DiscussionEarly pregnancy modulated expression of NLR family in the ovine endometrium, which may be essential for conceptus-endometrial interactions and maternal-fetal interface immune homeostasis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of diaphragmatic breathing combined with limb training on lower limb lymphedema following surgery for gynecological cancer.MethodsFrom January 2022 to May 2022, 60 patients with lower limb lymphedema post-gynecologic cancer surgery were chosen. They were split into a control group (n = 30) and a treatment group (n = 30). The control group underwent complex decongestive therapy (CDT) for managing lower limb lymphedema after gynecologic cancer surgery, while the treatment group received diaphragmatic breathing combined with limb coordination training alongside CDT. Both groups completed a 4-week treatment regimen. The lower limb lymphedema symptoms were evaluated using the genital, lower limb, buttock, and abdomen (GCLQ) scores; bilateral lower limb circumference measurements; and anxiety and depression scores.ResultsCompared to sole CDT administration, individuals undergoing diaphragmatic breathing coupled with limb coordination training experienced notable reductions in scores for the self-perceived symptom assessment questionnaire (GCLQ), bilateral lower limb circumference, as well as anxiety and depression scores.ConclusionThe incorporation of diaphragmatic breathing combined withalongside limb coordination training can accelerate and augment the efficacy of treating lower limb lymphedema post-gynecologic cancer surgery.

In light of escalating global climate change concerns and the pressing need to address industries with high carbon emissions and pollution, enhancing the preparation of phenol-formaldehyde epoxy resins has emerged as a critical research focus. This study seeks to fabricate waterborne phenol-formaldehyde epoxy resins with superior performance by investigating pivotal factors influencing their properties and refining preparation methods. Utilizing tetrabutylammonium bromide as a phase transfer catalyst, the phenol-formaldehyde epoxy resins are synthesized via a two-step alkalization process. Subsequent etherification reactions involve modifying the phenol-formaldehyde epoxy resins using cationic modifier diethanolamine (DEA) and anionic modifier sodium p-amino benzenesulfonate, resulting in waterborne phenol-formaldehyde epoxy resins. Subsequently, in situ synthesis is employed to produce nanoscale silica (SiO2) modified waterborne phenol-formaldehyde epoxy resins. The findings reveal that when the ratio of n1 to n2 falls within the range of 1/3.25 to 1/3, the emulsion displays a moderate particle size and maintains stable storage. Furthermore, an increase in DEA dosage leads to a particle size of less than 324 nm when the ratio of n1 to n2 exceeds 1/3, indicating stability. Moreover, optimal stability and prolonged storage lifespan are achieved when the nano SiO2 content is approximately 1.5%. This study contributes by synthesizing high-quality waterborne phenol-formaldehyde epoxy resin emulsions through optimized methods. The research findings offer a theoretical foundation for this domain and support the practical application of low-carbon and environmentally friendly concepts in the coatings industry.

Due to high proliferative capacity, multipotent differentiation, immunomodulatory abilities, and lack of ethical concerns, dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are promising candidates for clinical application. Currently, clinical research on DPSCs is in its early stages. The reason for the failure to obtain clinically effective results may be problems with the production process of DPSCs. Due to the different preparation methods and reagent formulations of DPSCs, cell characteristics may be affected and lead to inconsistent experimental results. Preparation of clinical-grade DPSCs is far from ready. To achieve clinical application, it is essential to transit the manufacturing of stem cells from laboratory grade to clinical grade. This review compares and analyzes experimental data on optimizing the preparation methods of DPSCs from extraction to resuscitation, including research articles, invention patents and clinical trials. The advantages and disadvantages of various methods and potential clinical applications are discussed, and factors that could improve the quality of DPSCs for clinical application are proposed. The aim is to summarize the current manufacture of DPSCs in the establishment of a standardized, reliable, safe, and economic method for future preparation of clinical-grade cell products.

ObjectiveGrounded in theories of globalization, this qualitative case study aimed to explore the understanding of play among Chinese teachers in private, for-profit Western style early learning centers.MethodsThe study encompassed 16 Chinese teachers working in four Western-style early learning centers. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews. Following separate thematic analyses of each case, a cross-case analysis was conducted to compare and contrast the emerging themes, elucidating both commonalities and distinctions across the four cases.ResultsThe findings from all four cases revealed a categorization of play into two main types: “play in class’” and “play out of class.” “Play out of class” was characterized as unstructured, enjoyable, and creative, emphasizing child autonomy and spontaneous learning. In contrast, “play in class” pertained to play-based curricula that were thoughtfully designed to align with specific teaching goals and learning objectives. It was seen as a structured method for fostering learning, highlighting the developmental appropriateness of such approaches.Conclusion:These findings underscore the educators’ recognition of the significance of play; however, it also illustrates that their perceptions have been shaped by the prevailing emphasis on children’s achievements in Chinese society.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a fatal, multigenic, multifactorial neurodegenerative disease characterized by upper and lower motor neuron loss. Animal models are essential for investigating pathogenesis and reflecting clinical manifestations, particularly in developing reasonable prevention and therapeutic methods for human diseases. Over the decades, researchers have established a host of different animal models in order to dissect amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), such as yeast, worms, flies, zebrafish, mice, rats, pigs, dogs, and more recently, non-human primates. Although these models show different peculiarities, they are all useful and complementary to dissect the pathological mechanisms of motor neuron degeneration in ALS, contributing to the development of new promising therapeutics. In this review, we describe several common animal models in ALS, classified by the naturally occurring and experimentally induced, pointing out their features in modeling, the onset and progression of the pathology, and their specific pathological hallmarks. Moreover, we highlight the pros and cons aimed at helping the researcher select the most appropriate among those common experimental animal models when designing a preclinical ALS study.

ObjectiveThe family environment has a significant impact on the psychological and behavioral development of children, especially those who are left behind in preschool and experience parent-child separation at a young age. These children face a greater risk of family dysfunction, which can lead to internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors. While numerous studies have established a connection between family functioning and problem behaviors, few have explored the underlying mechanisms driving this relationship. Our study seeks to address this gap by examining how emotion regulation and psychological resilience mediate the link between family functioning and problem behavior.MethodsThe sample consisted of 940 preschool children (51.5% male, 48.5% female) with a mean age of 5.07 ± 0.80. The main guardians of the children were given the Family Assessment Device, Preschool Children’s Emotion Regulation Scale, the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment for Preschoolers (2nd edition), and the Social Skills Improvement System-Rating Scales to assess their family functioning, emotion regulation, psychological resilience, and problem behavior respectively.ResultsLower family functioning was associated with more severe problem behaviors in preschool left-behind children, and emotion regulation and psychological resilience partially mediated the relationship between family functioning and problem behaviors, respectively. In addition, emotion regulation and psychological resilience were also chain mediators between family functioning and problem behaviors.ConclusionThe study’s findings highlighted the crucial role of emotional regulation and psychological resilience in the correlation between family functioning and problem behaviors. It is recommended that policymakers and educators place a high priority on the cultivation of internal psychological resources, such as emotional regulation and resilience, in preschool-aged children when designing interventions to address problem behaviors.

BackgroundEducation, intelligence and cognition affect occupational performance and socioeconomic status and may influence virous diseases development. However, the impact of these factors on gastrointestinal diseases and their mediating risk factors remains unclear.MethodsWe utilized genome-wide association studies from European ancestry populations to perform two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses, aiming to estimate genetic instruments associated with education, intelligence, or cognition in relation to 24 gastrointestinal diseases Subsequently, we evaluated 14 potential mediators of this association and calculated the corresponding mediated proportions through two-step Mendelian randomization analyses.ResultAs the dominant factor in gastrointestinal diseases, education had a statistically significant association with 2 gastrointestinal diseases (acute pancreatitis, gastroesophageal reflux) and a suggestive association with 6 diseases (cirrhosis, alcoholic liver disease, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, chronic gastritis and gastric ulcer). Of the 14 mediators, smoking and adiposity traits played a major role in mediating the effects.ConclusionThe study demonstrated the causal, independent impact of education on specific gastrointestinal diseases. Smoking and adiposity traits emerged as primary mediators, illuminating potential avenues for targeted interventions for prevention of them.

IntroductionThe characteristics and duties of clinical research nurses (CRNs) are constantly developing and changing with the progress of medical technology and increasing needs in patient care. With the continuous deepening and standardization of clinical trials, the importance and status of CRNs during the whole process of clinical trials are also increasingly valued.MethodsA scoping review of studies related to the characteristics and duties of CRNs was conducted to clarify relevant roles and concepts. An electronic search was conducted on three English databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase) and two Chinese databases (CNKI and Wanfang database) in December 2023. Two authors independently screened the literature, extracted information from the included literature, and summarized and reported the findings.ResultsA total of 26 articles published between 1991 and 2023 were analyzed, and four characteristics of CRNs were identified as participants and managers of clinical trials, caregivers and protectors of subjects, coordinators of research teams, and educators. Basic knowledge, skills and literacy, communication and coordination ability, and advanced research ability are the competencies required for CRNs.ConclusionFurther studies should focus on the importance of various characteristics of CRNs, so as to improve the quality of clinical trials and promote clinical evidence-based practice.

Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) have received a lot of attention as a regenerative medicine tool with strong immunomodulatory capabilities. The excessive inflammatory response involves a variety of immune cells, cytokines, and has a considerable impact on tissue regeneration. The use of DPSCs for controlling inflammation for the purpose of treating inflammation-related diseases and autoimmune disorders such as supraspinal nerve inflammation, inflammation of the pulmonary airways, systemic lupus erythematosus, and diabetes mellitus is likely to be safer and more regenerative than traditional medicines. The mechanism of the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of DPSCs is relatively complex, and it may be that they themselves or some of the substances they secrete regulate a variety of immune cells through inflammatory immune-related signaling pathways. Most of the current studies are still at the laboratory cellular level and animal model level, and it is believed that through the efforts of more researchers, DPSCs/SHED are expected to be transformed into excellent drugs for the clinical treatment of related diseases.

BackgroundDiabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most prevalent complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). However, there is still a lack of effective methods for non-invasive diagnosis of DN in clinical practice. We aimed to explore biomarkers from plasma cell-free DNA as a surrogate of renal biopsy for the differentiation of DN patients from patients with DM.Materials and methodsThe plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) was sequenced from 53 healthy individuals, 53 patients with DM but without DN, and 71 patients with both DM and DN. Multidimensional features of plasma DNA were analyzed to dissect the cfDNA profile in the DM and DN patients and identify DN-specific cfDNA features. Finally, a classification model was constructed by integrating all informative cfDNA features to demonstrate the clinical utility in DN detection.ResultsIn comparison with the DM patients, the DN individuals exhibited significantly increased cfDNA concentration in plasma. The cfDNA from the DN patients showed a distinct fragmentation pattern with an altered size profile and preferred motifs that start with “CC” in the cfDNA ending sites, which were associated with deoxyribonuclease 1 like 3 (DNASE1L3) expression in the kidney. Moreover, patients with DM or DN were found to carry more alterations in whole-genome cfDNA coverage when compared with healthy individuals. We integrated DN-specific cfDNA features (cfDNA concentration, size, and motif) into a classification model, which achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.928 for the differentiation of DN patients from DM patients.ConclusionOur findings showed plasma cfDNA as a reliable non-invasive biomarker for differentiating DN patients from DM patients. The utility of cfDNA in clinical practice in large prospective cohorts is warranted.

IntroductionWe aimed to investigate the association between greenness around schools, long-term gaseous air pollution exposure (SO2 and CO), and blood pressure in children and adolescents.MethodsFrom 2006 to 2018, a total of 219,956 Chinese children and adolescents aged 7–17 years in Beijing and Zhongshan were included in this longitudinal study. Annual average concentrations of SO2 and CO and the mean values of normalized difference vegetation index around schools were calculated. We used the generalized estimation equation model, restricted cubic spline model, and Cox model to analyze the health effects.ResultsAmong all the subjects, 52,515 had the first onset of HBP. During the follow-up, HBP's cumulative incidence and incidence density were 23.88% and 7.72 per 100 person-year respectively. Exposures to SO2 and CO were significantly associated with SBP [β = 1.30, 95% CI: (1.26, 1.34) and 0.78 (0.75, 0.81)], DBP [β = 0.81 (0.79, 0.84) and 0.46 (0.44, 0.48)] and HBP [HR = 1.58 (1.57, 1.60) and 1.42 (1.41, 1.43)]. The risks of HBP attributed to SO2 and CO pollution would be higher in school-aged children in the low greenness group: the attributable fractions (AFs) were 26.31% and 20.04%, but only 13.90% and 17.81% in the higher greenness group. The AFs were also higher for normal-BMI children and adolescents in the low greenness group (AFs = 30.90% and 22.64%, but 14.41% and 18.65% in the high greenness group), while the AFs were not as high as expected for obese children in the low greenness group (AFs = 10.64% and 8.61%), nor was it significantly lower in the high greenness group (AFs = 9.60% and 10.72%).DiscussionGreenness could alleviate the damage effects of SO2/CO exposure on the risks of HBP among children and adolescents, and the benefit is BMI sensitivity. It might offer insights for policymakers in making effective official interventions to prevent and control the prevalence of childhood HBP and the future disease burden caused by air pollution.

Maternal sepsis is a life-threatening condition and ranks among the top five causes of maternal death in pregnancy and the postpartum period. Herein, we conducted a retrospective study on sepsis cases to explain the related risk factors by comparing them with bloodstream infection (BSI) and control maternities. In total, 76 sepsis cases were enrolled, and 31 BSI and 57 maternal cases of the same age but with neither sepsis nor BSI were set as controls. Genital tract infection (GTI) and pneumonia were the two most common infection sources in both sepsis (22 cases, 29% and 29 cases, 38%) and BSI cases (18 cases, 58% and 8 cases, 26%). Urinary tract infection (UTI)/pyelonephritis (9 cases, 12%) and digestive infection cases (11 cases, 14%) only existed in the sepsis group. Significantly different infection sources were discovered between the sepsis-death and sepsis-cure groups. A higher proportion of pneumonia and a lower proportion of GTI cases were present in the sepsis-death group (17 cases, 45% pneumonia and 9 cases, 24% GTI) than in the sepsis-cure group (12 cases, 32% pneumonia and 13 cases, 34% GTI). In addition, although gram-negative bacteria were the dominant infectious microorganisms as previously reported, lower proportion of gram-negative bacteria infectious cases in sepsis (30 cases, 50%) and even lower in sepsis-death group (14 cases, 41%) was shown in this study than previous studies. As expected, significantly greater adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, such as higher maternal mortality (26.3% vs. 0% vs. 0%), higher fetal mortality (42.2% vs. 20.8% vs. 0%), earlier gestational age at delivery (26.4 ± 9.5 vs. 32.3 ± 8.1 vs. 37.7 ± 4.0) and lower newborn weight (1,590 ± 1287.8 vs. 2859.2 ± 966.0 vs. 3214.2 ± 506.4), were observed in the sepsis group. This study offered some potential pathogenesis and mortality risk factors for sepsis, which may inspire the treatment of sepsis in the future.

BackgroundInflammatory response markers are prognostic factors for several cancers, but their role in postoperative colorectal cancer (CRC) is unclear. The purpose was to evaluate the role of preoperative Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte ratio (NLR), Platelet-to-Lymphocyte-ratio (PLR), and Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte ratio (LMR) in the prognosis of postoperative CRC patients.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 448 CRC patients who had undergone surgical resection from December 2015 to December 2017 in our hospital. The plasma NLR, PLR, LMR, CEA, and CA19-9 were collected within 2 weeks before the operation. We recorded the clinical characteristics and survival data by reviewing medical records and phone calls. We analyzed preoperative inflammatory markers and clinical features using Pearson chi-squared tests or Fisher’s tests. Uni- and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed, and overall survival (OS) was estimated with the Kaplan–Meier method.ResultsHigh NLR and PLR were associated with worse overall survival in postoperative CRC (HR = 2.140, 95%CI = (1.488-3.078), P < 0.001; HR =1.820, 95%CI = (1.271-2.605), P = 0.001). High LMR was associated with improved overall survival in postoperative CRC (HR = 0.341, 95%CI = (0.188-0.618), P < 0.001). In the multivariate regression analysis, the increase of NLR resulted in an increase in the risk of death (HR = 1.678, 95%CI = (1.114-2.527), P = 0.013), and for the LMR, a reduction of the risk of death (HR = 0.480, 95%CI = (0.256 - 0.902), P = 0.023). Moreover, TNM stage, CA-199, CEA, nerve or vascular invasion (NVI) and adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery also were associated with worse overall survival in postoperative CRC.ConclusionCurrent evidence indicates that preoperative inflammatory markers NLR, LMR, and PLR are associated with overall survival in postoperative patients with colorectal cancer. NLR is an independent risk factor, and LMR is an independent protective factor in CRC patients after surgery.

The development of liver fibrosis primarily determines quality of life as well as prognosis. Animal models are often used to model and understand the underlying mechanisms of human disease. Although organoids can be used to simulate organ development and disease, the technology still faces significant challenges. Therefore animal models are still irreplaceable at this stage. Currently, in vivo models of liver fibrosis can be classified into five categories based on etiology: chemical, dietary, surgical, transgenic, and immune. There is a wide variety of animal models of liver fibrosis with varying efficacy, which have different implications for proper understanding of the disease and effective screening of therapeutic agents. There is no high-quality literature recommending the most appropriate animal models. In this paper, we will describe the progress of commonly used animal models of liver fibrosis in terms of their development mechanisms, applications, advantages and disadvantages, and recommend appropriate animal models for different research purposes.

IntroductionElectron shuttles (ESs) play a key role in extracellular electron transfer (EET) in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. However, the quantification relationship between ES concentration, biofilm formation, and biocurrent generation has not been clarified.MethodsIn this study, 9,10-anthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid (AQS)-mediated EET and biofilm formation were evaluated at different AQS concentrations in bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) with S. oneidensis MR-1.Results and discussionBoth the biofilm biomass (9- to 17-fold) and biocurrent (21- to 80-fold) were substantially enhanced by exogenous AQS, suggesting the dual ability of AQS to promote both biofilm formation and electron shuttling. Nevertheless, biofilms barely grew without the addition of exogenous AQS, revealing that biofilm formation by S. oneidensis MR-1 is highly dependent on electron shuttling. The biofilm growth was delayed in a BES of 2,000 μM AQS, which is probably because the redundant AQS in the bulk solution acted as a soluble electron acceptor and delayed biofilm formation. In addition, the maximum biocurrent density in BESs with different concentrations of AQS was fitted to the Michaelis–Menten equation (R2 = 0.97), demonstrating that microbial-catalyzed ES bio-reduction is the key limiting factor of the maximum biocurrent density in BESs. This study provided a fundamental understanding of ES-mediated EET, which could be beneficial for the enrichment of electroactive biofilms, the rapid start-up of microbial fuel cells (MFCs), and the design of BESs for wastewater treatment.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many buildings in northeast China have had clusters of infected cases in the vertical layout. There is speculation that vertical aerosol transmission occurs. The houses in northeast China are airtight, and range hoods may be used for a long period of time when cooking. The pathway and factors influencing vertical aerosol transmission are worth studying. To elucidate a viral aerosol transmission pathway, we selected a multistory apartment and a high-rise building in Changchun city, Jilin province, China, to conduct an in-depth investigation and on-site simulation experiments. According to epidemiological investigation information on infected cases, building structures, drainage, ventilation, etc., we used fluorescent microspheres to simulate the behaviors of infected people, such as breathing and flushing the toilet after defecation, to discharge simulated viruses and track and monitor them. The field simulation experiment confirmed the transmission of fluorescent microsphere aerosols to other rooms in two types of buildings using a vertical aerosol transmission pathway of toilet flush-sewage pipe-floor drain without a water seal. Our study showed that, in the absence of a U-shaped trap or floor drain water seal whether in a multistory apartment or high-rise residential building, there is a transmission pathway of “excretion of virus through feces-toilet flushing-sewage pipe-floor drain without water seal,” which will cause the vertical transmission of viral aerosol across floors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the negative pressure generated by turning on the range hood when closing doors and windows increase aerosol transmission. Based on this negative pressure, prevention and control measures for residential buildings in northeast China during the COVID-19 pandemic were proposed.

BackgroundCardiovascular health (CVH) in children and adolescents, which might be largely influenced by parental behaviors, may affect the incidence of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. However, few studies have been conducted to explore the associations between parental behaviors and CVH status of offspring in China.MethodsData were obtained from a cross-sectional survey conducted in Chinese children and adolescents aged 7–18 years old, with a total of 10,043 parent–offspring pairs included. Parental behaviors included moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), dietary behaviors, and weight status. The CVH status of offspring was consulted by The American Heart Association, including seven factors. The associations between parental behaviors and CVH status of offspring were evaluated by multilevel logistic regression. Stratified analyses were conducted to explore the potential modifying influence of sociodemographic factors.ResultsMost of the offspring had five ideal CVH factors; only 21.04% had six to seven ideal CVH factors. Parental unhealthy behaviors were associated with high odds of nonideal CVH status of offspring. Parental overweight/obesity, insufficient MVPA, and unhealthy dietary behaviors could increase the odds of owning one to three ideal CVH factors in offspring, with corresponding odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence interval) of 1.61 (1.32–1.96), 1.31 (1.10–1.56), and 2.05 (1.43–2.94), respectively. There was a dose–response relationship between parental single unhealthy behavior and the odds of nonideal CVH status in offspring (P-trend

Preeclampsia (PE) is a severe placenta-related pregnancy disease that has been associated with maternal systemic inflammation and immune system disorders. However, the distribution and functional changes in immune cells of the maternal–placental interface have not been well characterized. Herein, cytometry by time-of-flight mass spectrometry (CyTOF) was used to investigate the immune atlas at the decidua, which was obtained from four PE patients and four healthy controls. Six superclusters were identified, namely, T cells, B cells, natural killer (NK) cells, monocytes, granulocytes, and others. B cells were significantly decreased in the PE group, among which the reduction in CD27+CD38+ regulatory B cell (Breg)-like cells may stimulate immune activation in PE. The significantly increased migration of B cells could be linked to the significantly overexpressed chemokine C-X-C receptor 5 (CXCR5) in the PE group, which may result in the production of excessive autoantibodies and the pathogenesis of PE. A subset of T cells, CD11c+CD8+ T cells, was significantly decreased in PE and might lead to sustained immune activation in PE patients. NK cells were ultimately separated into four subsets. The significant reduction in a novel subset of NK cells (CD56-CD49a-CD38+) in PE might have led to the failure to suppress inflammation at the maternal–fetal interface during PE progression. Moreover, the expression levels of functional markers were significantly altered in the PE group, which also inferred that shifts in the decidual immune state contributed to the development of PE and might serve as potential treatment targets. This is a worthy attempt to elaborate the differences in the phenotype and function of CD45+ immune cells in the decidua between PE and healthy pregnancies by CyTOF, which contributes to understand the pathogenesis of PE, and the altered cell subsets and markers may inspire the immune modulatory therapy for PE.

Recently, it has become popular to study the use of extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by stem cells to repair damaged tissues or lost cells. Various cell types and physiological fluids release EVs, and they play an important role in cell-to-cell communication. Moreover, EVs have been implicated in important processes, such as immune responses, homeostasis maintenance, coagulation, inflammation, cancer progression, angiogenesis, and antigen presentation. Thus, EVs participate in both physiological and pathological progression. The main classes of EVs include exosomes, microvesicles (MVs), and apoptotic bodies (ApoBDs). Exosomes, which carry a mass of signal molecules such as RNA, DNA, proteins, and lipids, are the most important of these EVs subsets. Currently, exosomes are generating substantial interest in the scientific community. Exosomes loaded hydrogels or under different cultural environments exhibit different properties and functions. Therefore, the exosomes obtained from different sources and conditions are worth reviewing. More importantly, no review article has compared the different EVs, such as exosomes, MVs, ApoBDs, and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) lysates, which are special soluble substances. The differentiation between EVs and MSC lysates is a logical approach. Accordingly, this review provides an update on the latest progress in studying the roles of culture-condition stimulated exosomes or their loaded hydrogels and the differentiation between exosomes, MVs, ApoBDs, and MSC lysates. Published studies were retrieved from the PubMed® database for review.

ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between fear of recurrence and depression in patients with cancer.Materials and methodsTwo hundred and fifty-nine participants completed self-report questionnaires, including the Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form, Rumination Inventory, Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (Chinese version), and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale.ResultsFear of recurrence in patients with cancer was moderate, and the level of depression was significantly higher than that in the normal population. Fear of recurrence, invasive rumination, catastrophizing, and depression in patients with cancer were significantly positively correlated. The level of fear of recurrence was a significant positive predictor of the level of depression. Invasive rumination played a partial mediating role between fear of recurrence and depression; that is, fear of recurrence directly affected depression, and fear of recurrence indirectly affected depression through invasive rumination. Catastrophizing played a moderating role in the mediation model, in which fear of recurrence affected depression through invasive rumination.ConclusionInvasive rumination plays a mediating role between fear of recurrence and depression in patients with cancer. Catastrophizing moderates the relationship between fear of recurrence and depression as well as the relationship between invasive rumination and depression.

This study conceptualizes the impact of Green Economy Policies, namely, green fiscal policy, green investment, and green jobs, on sustainable economic development through direct and serially mediated paths. Ecopreneurship and Green Technological Innovation have been perceived/recognized as potential mediators linking green economy policies to sustainable economic development. The conceptual model sheds light on the integrated role of two main actors—the government of the state and its market forces in moving toward the goal of sustainability and gains for all. It represents that incorporating “green” into public policy creates a suitable environment for green entrepreneurs to propose innovative green technologies and sustainability-led business models. Theoretically supported by Institutional theory, this article aims to contribute to sustainability transition research by focusing on the collective role of different institutional forces in achieving economic gains through a sustainability lens.

With the rapid development of digital health today, the lack of digital health literacy in older adults is an urgent problem. It is crucial that older adults adapt to the digital reform in medical treatment, pension, health management, and other fields. Therefore, we reviewed the current development status of digital health literacy among older adults. A total of 47 articles were included in this scoping review. Our findings revealed that research on digital health literacy in older adults is still in its infancy. Further development is warranted especially in terms of assessment tools and intervention methods.

BackgroundThis study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the trial of national multicentric school-based health lifestyles intervention toward childhood obesity on the KBP at individual, family and schools' levels.MethodsThe national trial was a multi-centered, cluster-controlled trial, which was conducted in seven provinces from September 2013 to February 2014, aiming at preventing childhood overweight and obesity. Integrated intervention strategies focused on changing specific practice related to energy intake and expenditure, such as decreasing the consumption of sweetened fizzy drinks, increasing the consumption of vegetables, ensuring proper protein intake, reducing sedentary practice including screen time, and maintaining at least 1 h of moderate to vigorous physical activity. A total of 27,477 children and adolescents in the control group and 30,997 in the intervention group were recruited with a mean follow-up period of 6.7 months. The binomial response mixed-effects model was used for assessing the effects of the national school-based health lifestyles intervention on obesity-related KBP at students individual, parents' and schools' levels.ResultsChildren and adolescents in the intervention group mastered better obesity-related knowledge, and they had higher correct response rates to all questions about obesity-related knowledge compared to the control group (P < 0.05). In terms of obesity-related belief, individuals in the intervention group was more motivated than the control group, participants in the intervention group had higher correctness of 71.18, 52.94, and 56.60% than the control group of 68.61, 49.86, and 54.43%, (P < 0.05). In addition, healthier habits of eating breakfast and drinking milk every day were observed in the intervention group. For the beliefs toward obesity, parents of the intervention group had higher correctness than the control group. At the same time except for the fruit consumption, other obesity-related practice in the intervention group were healthier than the control group (P < 0.05). Except for some beliefs and practice, the intervention effect at the parent level was not significant in other aspects.ConclusionThe obesity-related knowledge and beliefs of children and adolescents got improved significantly. However, the effects on the knowledge, beliefs and certain practices of their parents and school administrators failed to reach significance.

BackgroundMetabolically healthy obesity (MHO) is a group of subjects with overweight/obesity who present a metabolically healthy profile; however, associated factors are complex and are far from completely understood. The aim of the current study was to estimate the prevalence of different metabolic body size phenotypes and investigate the associated factors in Chinese children and adolescents.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted of 12,346 children and adolescents aged 7–18 years from seven provinces in China in 2013. Anthropometric, blood pressure, and biochemical measurements were obtained. A multi-component questionnaire covering demographic, neonatal, and lifestyle characteristics was administered. The classification of metabolic body size phenotype based on three definitions was compared. With metabolically healthy with normal weight (MHNW) as a reference group, logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the potential effects of associated risk factors, with adjustment for age, sex, single-child status, and residence area.ResultsThe prevalence of MHNW, MHO, metabolically unhealthy with normal weight (MUNW), and metabolically unhealthy overweight/obesity (MUO) phenotype was 68.6%, 2.0%, 26.4%, and 3.0%, respectively. There were 39.3% MHO and 60.7% MUO among obese participants and 72.2% MHNW and 27.8% MUNW among those with normal weight. Compared to cardiometabolic risk factor (CMRF) criteria and metabolic syndrome (MetS) component definition, the application of the 2018 consensus-based definition may identify more children with abnormal cardiovascular risks, independent of weight status. Compared to younger children, older-aged adolescents were positively associated with higher risks of MUNW (odds ratio (OR) = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.27–1.50) and MUO (OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.04–1.60), while factors positively associated with MHO were younger age, single-child status, urban residence, high birth weight, prolonged breastfeeding duration, parental overweight/obesity status, long screen time, and less physical activity.ConclusionThere were still a high proportion of children and adolescents at high cardiometabolic risk in China. Our findings reinforce the need for cardiometabolic risk prevention in children and adolescents irrespective of their weight statuses, such as parental educational programs and healthy lifestyle interventions.

The WRKY transcription factors (TFs) are one of the largest families of TFs in plants and play multiple roles in plant growth and development and stress response. In this study, GmWRKY21 encoding a WRKY transcription factor was functionally characterized in Arabidopsis and soybean. The GmWRKY21 protein containing a highly conserved WRKY domain and a C2H2 zinc-finger structure is located in the nucleus and has the characteristics of transcriptional activation ability. The GmWRKY21 gene presented a constitutive expression pattern rich in the roots, leaves, and flowers of soybean with over 6-fold of relative expression levels and could be substantially induced by aluminum stress. As compared to the control, overexpression of GmWRKY21 in Arabidopsis increased the root growth of seedlings in transgenic lines under the AlCl3 concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 μM with higher proline and lower MDA accumulation. The results of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) showed that the marker genes relative to aluminum stress including ALMT, ALS3, MATE, and STOP1 were induced in GmWRKY21 transgenic plants under AlCl3 treatment. The stress-related genes, such as KIN1, COR15A, COR15B, COR47, GLOS3, and RD29A, were also upregulated in GmWRKY21 transgenic Arabidopsis under aluminum stress. Similarly, stress-related genes, such as GmCOR47, GmDREB2A, GmMYB84, GmKIN1, GmGST1, and GmLEA, were upregulated in hair roots of GmWRKY21 transgenic plants. In summary, these results suggested that the GmWRKY21 transcription factor may promote the tolerance to aluminum stress mediated by the pathways regulating the expression of the acidic aluminum stress-responsive genes and abiotic stress-responsive genes.

Spatial misallocation is an essential reason for the low utilization efficiency of construction land. Optimizing the spatial pattern of construction land allocation can improve the efficiency of economic operations and resilience to food crisis and climate change challenges. This study constructs a quantitative measurement method for the spatial misallocation of construction land (SMCL), proposes a new government market society support (GMSS) analytical framework for the contributing factors with interlocked relationships, and conducts empirical research in Shandong, China, which is a typical area with a rapid development of construction land and significant regional disparity. It is concluded that the SMCL ensues through the interaction and coevolution of the GMSS system, which plays a key role in adjusting the construction land use sequence, structure, and efficiency under the regulation of the upper government. Effectively using the estimation method based on the equal marginal output principle, the SMCL in Shandong is established as a downward trend, with evident temporal and spatial differentiation characteristics and spatial morphological mode changes, although most sub-regions are significantly approaching the adaptation interval with fluctuation. Furthermore, the empirical results of the regression model indicate that there are different effects and intensities on the SMCL among the contributing factors under the GMSS framework, wherein the local government force has an aggravating and the greatest effect, the market forces have a dual and second-ranking effect, the social forces play a positive but still weak role, and the support system has a differentiated improvement effect. However, the impacts of various dimensional factors on the SMCL also have heterogeneity in the development stages and different regions. Generally, in the low-level development stage and underdeveloped areas, the effect of local government intervention is stronger, the market forces’ importance is lower, and the social forces and support systems remain insufficiently robust.

The RNA-binding protein quaking homolog 6 (QKI-6) is a tumor-suppressor gene in several cancers. However, its role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unclear. In this study, we aimed to determine the association between QKI-6 expression and survival and clinicopathological features in patients with NSCLC and identify the related mechanisms. Western blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to detect QKI-6 expression in NSCLC. The effect of QKI-6 on NSCLC cells was determined by overexpression and knockdown assays, and label-free quantitative proteomics and Western blot were used to identify the underlying mechanisms. Low QKI-6 expression level was positively correlated with poor overall survival in patients with NSCLC. Furthermore, QKI-6 overexpression inhibited NSCLC cell proliferation and migration and induced a block in the G0/G1 phase, and QKI-6 downregulation increased proliferation and migration. QKI-6 inhibited EMT processes via EGFR/SRC/STAT3 signaling by upregulating AGR2. In conclusion, QKI-6 could be used to develop novel strategies for the treatment of NSCLC.

BackgroundRare studies investigated the associations between sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption with depressive and social anxiety symptoms among children and adolescents, particularly in different stratification of body composition, which was our purpose.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of children and adolescents aged 7–17 years was conducted in Beijing, China, in 2020, with an average age of 12.07 (SD: 3.09) years. Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) questionnaires and social anxiety scale for children (SASC) were completed in the baseline questionnaires. SSB consumption and body composition were assessed using child-reported questionnaires and a GE Healthcare Lunar iDXA dual-energy X-ray bone densitometer. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the associations between SSB consumption with depressive and social anxiety symptoms. Confounders were evaluated by child-reported and parental questionnaires, including age, sex, parental educational attainment, maternal smoking status, single-child status, BMI, incomes, fruit consumption, physical activity, screen time, and the frequency of fried food consumption. Stratified analyses were performed to explore whether the associations were influenced by body composition.ResultsA total of 1,311 children and adolescents, including 658 boys and 653 girls, were included in the final analysis. There were 13.96 and 29.75% of the study population with depressive and social anxiety symptoms, respectively. Overall, about 63.77% of the children and adolescents consumed SSB, and the average SSB intake was 0.35 servings per day. In the fully adjusted model, compared to participants who did not consume SSB each day, SSB consumption of ≥1 servings/day was positively associated with depressive symptoms [odds ratio (OR) = 2.28, 95% CI = 1.30–4.01] and social anxiety (OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.69–1.77), though the latter did not reach statistical significance. When individuals had higher body fat or lower fat-free mass (FFM) or muscle, the ORs of depressive symptoms were more evident among children and adolescents who drank SSB for ≥1 servings/day (P < 0.05).ConclusionHigher consumption of SSB could be associated with increased OR of depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. The association remained robust, especially in groups with higher body fat or lower fat-free mass or muscle.

Background: Recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis (RLNP), a severe complication of mini-invasive esophagectomy, usually occurs during lymphadenectomy adjacent to recurrent laryngeal nerve. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) in reducing RLNP incidence during mini-invasive esophagectomy.Methods: Systematic literature search of PubMed, EMBASE, EBSCO, Web of Knowledge, and Cochrane Library until June 4, 2021 was performed using the terms “(nerve monitoring) OR neuromonitoring OR neural monitoring OR recurrent laryngeal nerve AND (esophagectomy OR esophageal).” Primary outcome was postoperative RLNP incidence. Secondary outcomes were sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for IONM; complications after esophagectomy; number of dissected lymph nodes; operation time; and length of hospital stay.Results: Among 2,330 studies, five studies comprising 509 patients were eligible for final analysis. The RLNP incidence was significantly lower (odds ratio [OR] 0.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.12–0.88, p < 0.05), the number of dissected mediastinal lymph nodes was significantly higher (mean difference 4.30, 95%CI 2.75–5.85, p < 0.001), and the rate of hoarseness was significantly lower (OR 0.14, 95%CI 0.03–0.63, p = 0.01) in the IONM group than in the non-IONM group. The rates of aspiration (OR 0.31, 95%CI 0.06–1.64, p = 0.17), pneumonia (OR 1.08, 95%CI 0.70–1.67, p = 0.71), and operation time (mean difference 7.68, 95%CI −23.60–38.95, p = 0.63) were not significantly different between the two groups. The mean sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for IONM were 53.2% (0–66.7%), 93.7% (54.8–100%), 71.4% (0–100%), and 87.1% (68.0–96.6%), respectively.Conclusion: IONM was a feasible and effective approach to minimize RLNP, improve lymphadenectomy, and reduce hoarseness after thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer, although IONM did not provide significant benefit in reducing aspiration, pneumonia, operation time, and length of hospital stay.

Objective: The skip N2 metastases were frequent in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the better prognosis of NSCLC with a skip over non-skip N2 lymph node metastases is controversial. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the prognosis effect of skip N2 lymph node metastases on the survival of NSCLC.Setting: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library with the term of “N2” or “mediastinal lymph node” or “mediastinal nodal metastases”, and “lung cancer” and “skip” or “skipping” in the title/abstract field. The primary outcomes of interests are 3- and 5-year survival in NSCLC.Participants: Patients who underwent complete resection by lobectomy, bilobectomy, or pneumonectomy with systemic ipsilateral lymphadenectomy and were staged as pathologically N2 were included.Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures: The 3- and 5-year survival of NSCLC was analyzed. The impact of publication year, number of patients, baseline mean age, gender, histology, adjuvant therapy, number of skip N2 stations, and survival analysis methods on the primary outcome were also analyzed.Results: A total of 21 of 409 studies with 6,806 patients met the inclusion criteria and were finally included for the analysis. The skip N2 lymph node metastases NSCLC had a significantly better overall survival (OS) than the non-skip N2 NSCLC [hazard ratio (HR), 0.71; 95% CI, 0.62–0.82; P < 0.001; I2 = 40.4%]. The skip N2 lymph node metastases NSCLC had significantly higher 3- and 5-year survival rates than the non-skip N2 lymph node metastases NSCLC (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.66–0.84; P < 0.001; I2 = 60%; and OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.71–0.86; P < 0.001; I2 = 67.1%, respectively).Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that the prognosis of skip N2 lymph node metastases NSCLC is better than that of a non-skip N2 lymph node.

Evidence shows that physical activity has multiple health benefits for the body and mind of oneself, but little is known about the impacts of the setting and the intensity on exercise experience, especially for obese people. This study investigated the physiological and psychological effects of four walking conditions with different settings (park vs. gym) and intensity (slow vs. fast) on young obese adults. Subjects were 18–21 years old Chinese university students (N = 77), who were diagnosed as obese. They were randomly assigned to participate in one of the four activities in the field: slow walk in the park (2.8 km/h), fast walk in the park (5.5 km/h), slow walk in the gym, and fast walk in the gym. Physiological indices, including blood pressure and heart rate, were measured before and after the walk. Psychological responses were measured by the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, the mood states scale, and the semantic differential scale. This study of obese people aged 18–21 years confirmed the previous findings that exercising in natural environments better relieved stress and restored attentional level than indoor activities. The results suggested that the mood states of the participants and their environmental perceptions may be influenced by the walking conditions with different setting and speed. The findings can be used in planning and designing urban green spaces for promoting physical activity and making exercise plans for obese people.

The meningeal lymphatic vessels (mLVs) in central nervous system (CNS) have been validated by rodent and human studies. The mLVs play a vital role in draining soluble molecules and trafficking lymphocytes, antigens and antibodies from CNS into cervical lymph nodes (CLNs). This indicates that mLVs may serve as a link between the CNS and peripheral immune system, perhaps involving in the neuroinflammatory disease. However, the morphology and drainage function of mLVs in patients with neuroinflammatory disease, such as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), remains unexplored. Using the dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI), we found that slower flow through mLVs along superior sagittal sinus in NMOSD patients with acute attack instead of NMOSD patients in chronic phase. The reduced flow in mLVs correlated with the disease severity evaluated by expanded disability status scale (EDSS). The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) indicated DCE-MRI might provide objective evidence to predict the acute relapse of NMOSD through evaluating the function of mLVs. Promoting or restoring the function of mLVs might be a new target for the treatment of NMOSD relapse.

PurposeThe aim of this study was to compare the energy contributions and workloads in men and women during badminton matches versus frequently used multi-ball smash practices.MethodsFourteen badminton players performed one badminton singles game and one session of smashing practice on separate days. The energy contributions were examined in terms of each individual’s three energy systems and substrate oxidation, while workloads included heart rate (HR), Player Load (PL), accelerations, decelerations, changes of direction, and jumps.Results(1) During games, male players exhibited higher adenosine triphosphate–phosphocreatine system contribution (EPCr, kJ) (p = 0.008) and average rate of carbohydrate oxidation (RCHO, g/min) (p = 0.044) than female players, while female players showed greater absolute PL (p = 0.029) and more accelerations (p = 0.005) than male players. Furthermore, players who lost performed higher relative PL (p = 0.017) than those who won. (2) Higher energy system contributions, including EPCr (kJ) (p = 0.028), EHLa (kJ) (p = 0.024), EAer (kJ) (p = 0.012), ETot (kJ) (p = 0.007), and RCHO (g/min) (p = 0.0002), were seen in male players during repetitive spike practices. Male players also made greater number of jumps (p = 0.0002). (3) Players exhibited higher aerobic energy contribution (p < 0.001), mean HR (p = 0.002), and HRmax (p = 0.029) during games, while exhibiting greater anaerobic energy contribution (p < 0.001) and relative PL (p = 0.001) during repetitive practices.ConclusionThe similarities between male and female badminton players in proportional use of the three energy systems during games and repetitive spike training indicate similar relative energy demands for both genders. However, considering the need for higher aerobic capacity in competition, it might be advisable to design appropriate work:rest ratios for repetitive practices in daily training.

BackgroundPlatelet activating factor acetylhydrolase 1b catalytic subunit 3 (PAFAH1B3) is associated with a variety of human diseases. However, its function in gastric cancer remains uncertain.MethodsPAFAH1B3 expression was analyzed in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and genotype-tissue expression pan-cancer data. The association between PAFAH1B3 expression and patient prognosis was evaluated using TCGA clinical survival data. Enrichment analysis of PAFAH1B3 was performed using the clusterProfiler R software package. Moreover, the correlation between PAFAH1B3 expression and immune cell infiltration were evaluated by analyzing TCGA database. CCK8 assay and colony-formation assay were performed to assess the effect of PAFAH1B3 on the proliferation of gastric cancer cells. Transwell assay was used to evaluate the impact of PAFAH1B3 on gastric cancer cell migration. Western blot was performed to evaluate the role of PAFAH1B3 on signaling pathways in gastric cancer cells.ResultsPAFAH1B3 was highly expressed in many types of tumors including gastric cancer. High PAFAH1B3 expression was significantly correlated with proliferation-related gene sets involved in DNA replication, the cell cycle, and cell cycle checkpoints. Further analysis showed that high PAFAH1B3 expression was associated with high M1 macrophage and CD8-positive T cell infiltration scores. PAFAH1B3 knockdown inhibited the proliferation, migration, and the activation of oncogenic signaling in gastric cancer cells.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that PAFAH1B3 may be an oncogene in gastric cancer.

The discovery of complete ammonia oxidation (comammox), oxidizing ammonia to nitrate via nitrite in a single organism, has redefined the traditional recognition of the two-step nitrification driven by two functional groups (ammonia-oxidizing and nitrite-oxidizing microorganisms). However, the understanding of the distribution and niche differentiation of comammox Nitrospira in the estuarine mudflats and their reclaimed agricultural soils is still limited. Here, we investigated the abundance, diversity and community structures of comammox Nitrospira in the mudflats and the reclaimed agricultural soils in the northern Yangtze River estuary. Quantitative PCR showed the abundances of amoA genes of comammox were lower than that of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in nearly all samples. Amplicon sequencing of amoA genes revealed that the community structures of comammox Nitrospira were significantly (P < 0.001) different between the original mudflats and the reclaimed agricultural soils, indicating niche differentiation among comammox Nitrospira clades (clade A.1, clade A.2, and clade B). The clade A.1 was the dominant group of comammox Nitrospira in the mudflats, while clade B predominated in the agricultural soils. However, the members of clade A.2 could be clearly divided into two groups, the mudflat-preferred and agricultural soil-preferred groups, suggesting more complicated ecological preferences within this sub-clade. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that salinity, organic matter (OM) and NO3–-N had a significantly influence on the distribution of comammox Nitrospira in the estuarine environment. Clade A.1 and nearly half members of clade A.2 were positively correlated with salinity, and negatively correlated with the concentrations of OM and NO3–-N. In contrast, the clade B and the other half members of clade A.2 showed the exact opposite pattern: a negative correlation with salinity and positive correlation with OM and NO3–-N. The co-occurrence network demonstrated that the operational taxonomic units (OTUs) within the same (sub-)clade were mostly positively correlated, indicating the similar niche preferences among the members from the same (sub-)clade of comammox Nitrospira. Taken together, our results revealed the niche differentiation of comammox Nitrospira in estuarine ecosystems where salinity and OM were the primary factors responsible for the distinct ecological distribution patterns.

UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs), being multifunctional detoxification enzymes, play a major role in the process of resistance to various pesticides in insects. However, the mechanism underlying the molecular regulation of pesticide resistance remains unclear, especially in Apis cerana cerana. In this study, all of the UGTs in Apis cerana cerana (AccUGT) have been identified through the multiple alignment and phylogenetic analysis. Expression of AccUGT genes under different pesticides, and antioxidant genes after silencing of AccUGT2B20-like, were detected by qRT-PCR. The resistance of overexpressed AccUGT2B20-like to oxidative stress was investigated by an Escherichia coli overexpression system. Also, antioxidant-related enzyme activity was detected after silencing of the AccUGT2B20-like gene. Expression pattern analysis showed that almost all UGT genes were upregulated under different pesticide treatments. This result indicated that AccUGTs participate in the detoxification process of pesticides. AccUGT2B20-like was the major gene because it was more highly induced than the others. Overexpression of AccUGT2B20-like in E. coli could effectively improve oxidative stress resistance. Specifically, silencing the AccUGT2B20-like gene increased oxidative stress by repressing the expression of oxidation-related genes, decreasing antioxidant-related enzyme activity, and increasing malondialdehyde concentration. Taken together, our results indicate that AccUGTs are involved in pesticide resistance, among which, AccUGT2B20-like contributes to the detoxification of pesticides by eliminating oxidative stress in Apis cerana cerana. This study explains the molecular basis for the resistance of bees to pesticides and provides an important safeguard for maintaining ecological balance.

After the discovery of complete ammonia-oxidizing (comammox) Nitrospira, detection and assessments of the contribution of comammox Nitrospira communities to nitrogen cycling are in great demand. PCR-based approach, a common method for the detection of comammox, depends strongly on accurate amplification of the amoA genes from the original DNA samples using appropriate primers. In this study, we reported an evaluation of the performance of two commonly used primer sets, Ntsp-amoA 162F/359R and comaA/B-244f/659r, for amplifying the comammox amoA genes from three representative wetland soils in China [Sangsang (SS), Sanjiang (SJ), and Xianghai (XH)]. Our results demonstrated the two primer sets could both successfully amplify the clades with high relative abundances (RA), and further revealed a broadly similar diversity and community composition of dominant comammox operational taxonomic units (OTUs) (RA ≥ 1%) in each of the three wetland soils. However, the clades with low RA, such as the clade A (1.26%) in SJ and the clade B (11.54%) in XH that were recovered by metagenomics analysis, failed to be amplified using comaA/B-244f/659r, but were successfully amplified and sequenced using Ntsp-amoA 162F/359R. It indicated that, compared to comaA/B-244f/659r, Ntsp-amoA 162F/359R was more sensitive to the clades with low RA. However, it is worth noting that Ntsp-amoA 162F/359R would overestimate the RA of some rare clades. For example, the RAs of clade B in XH were overestimated by 32-fold. Furthermore, high levels of non-target amplification were detected via gel electrophoresis using both primer sets, especially for comammox Clade B amoA genes, implying that we should treat qPCR results based on these primers with caution. Taken together, our study comprehensively compared the performance of the two primer sets on the sensitivity and specificity of amplifying comammox amoA genes in three wetland soils, pointing out the necessity of further development of new primers for the efficient and accurate detection of comammox in various environments.

BackgroundDual-specificity phosphatase 9 (DUSP9) belongs to the dual-specificity protein phosphatase subfamily. Recently, increasing attention has been paid on the role of DUSP9 in a variety of cancers. However, its functional role in tumor development is still unclear, especially in colorectal cancer (CRC).MethodsThe functional role of DUSP9 in inhibiting the progression of CRC was verified using colony formation assay, wound healing assay, nude mice xenograft model, etc. RNA-seq was performed to assess the gene expression profiling in SW480 cells with DUSP9 stable knockdown and shControl cells. Bisulfite sequencing (BSE) was performed to reveal the methylation status of CpG island in the promoter of DUSP9.ResultsDUSP9 was significantly downregulated in tumor tissues compared with peritumor tissues. Mechanistically, the high methylation status of CpG island in the promoter of DUSP9 may lead to the downregulation of DUSP9 in CRC. Clinically, low DUSP9 expression in CRC was closely associated with depth of invasion, metastasis (TNM) stage, and poor survival, indicating that DUSP9 may be involved in the progression of CRC. Functional study revealed that DUSP9 inhibited proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition of CRC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Transcriptome profiling studies revealed that Erk signaling was involved in the tumor progression mediated by DUSP9 silencing, which is confirmed by cell experiments and clinical tissue sample staining analysis.ConclusionOur findings demonstrate that DUSP9 plays a critical role in the progression of CRC, and therapeutic intervention to increase the expression or activity of DUSP9 may be a potential target for CRC treatment in the future.

Ross syndrome (RS) is a rare peripheral autonomic system disorder characterized by tonic pupil, hyporeflexia, and segmental anhidrosis. Neuropathological studies show that RS results from the selective cholinergic nerve degeneration. However, the cause and underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we show α-synuclein accumulation in the autonomic nerve terminals in the lesser curvature of stomach of patients with RS. In addition, immunohistochemical findings demonstrate that a dominant degeneration of cholinergic fibers is exhibited in patients with RS, while main degeneration of adrenergic fibers is demonstrated in patients with pure autonomic failure in their gastrointestinal and urinary system. Our study suggests that RS belongs to α-synucleinopathies. Moreover, our findings indicate that adrenergic nerves and cholinergic nerves are not equally damaged in different types of pure autonomic dysfunctions.

BackgroundAnxiety and depression are common symptoms in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The 24-form Tai Chi may exert a protective function for CHD patients after PCI by improving anxiety and depression.MethodsPatients who received PCI after 1–4 days were randomly assigned to the 24-form Tai Chi group (TG) and the control group (CG). The differences in anxiety and depression, using the Medical Outcomes Study 36−item Short−Form Health Survey (SF-36), before and after an average of 10 months of Tai Chi intervention were compared in both groups to analyze the effects of Tai Chi on the emotion and the life quality of CHD patients. Meanwhile, the relative levels of miR-17-92 were measured by using real-time qPCR. The association between the relative levels of miR-17-92 and the anxiety and the depression of CHD patients after PCI was analyzed. Adjusted Cox models were used to explore the effect of Tai Chi exercise in CHD patients.ResultsAfter 10 months of intervention, the changes in the anxiety subscale (P = 0.002), in the depression subscale (P = 0.008), and in the stress (P = 0.015) scores were higher in the TG group when compared to those of the CG group. The proportion of anxious (P = 0.045) and depressed subjects (P = 0.042) in the TG group was lower than that in the CG group. On the other hand, the increase in the SF-36 scores and in the relative levels of miR-17-92 was significantly higher in the TG group when compared with that of the CG group (P < 0.05). The serum level of miR-17-92 had a negative correlation with the anxiety, the depression, and the stress scores (P < 0.01).ConclusionThe 24-form Tai Chi improved the anxiety and the depression symptoms and upregulated the miR-17-92 levels in CHD patients after PCI.

Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) are promising for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, their low rate of migration and survival in the brain limit their clinical applicability. This study is designed to improve the therapeutic potential of hUC-MSCs by preincubating them with resveratrol, a natural polyphenol capable of regulating cell destiny. Herein, we demonstrate that resveratrol preincubation enhances the migration of hUC-MSCs in vitro, as well as their survival and homing into the hippocampus of AD mice in vivo. Moreover, resveratrol-primed MSCs were better able to inhibit amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) deposition, Tau hyperphosphorylation, and oxidative stress, all while improving learning and memory. Notably, we found that hUC-MSCs inhibited neuroinflammation by reacting with astrocytes and microglial cells and suppressing mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), extracellular signal kinases (ERK), p38 kinases (p38), and c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) signaling pathways in the hippocampus of AD mice. Furthermore, resveratrol pretreatment enhanced these effects. Conclusively, the current study revealed that resveratrol preconditioning protected hUC-MSCs against the hostile microenvironment characteristic of AD and enhanced their viability and homing into the brain of AD mice. The use of resveratrol-pretreated hUC-MSCs is thereby proposed to be a promising therapy for AD.

Purpose: Poor sleep quality is harmful for everyone and potentially even more harmful for older adults with atrial fibrillation-associated stroke (AFAS). This study aims to explore the effects of eight-section brocade (ESB) on sleep quality, memory, and cardiopulmonary function in the older adults with AFAS.Methods: Older adults with AFAS and sleep disorders were recruited and divided into the ESB (EG, n = 85) and control groups (CG, general exercise, n = 85). EG patients received 60 min ESB exercises 5 times a week for 12 weeks; CG patients received normal exercise. Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) scores (poor sleepers ≥8 and normal sleepers < 8), memory for word pairs (poor memory ≤ 7 and normal memory > 7), left ventricular posterior wall (LVPW) thickness, and maximum ventilation (MV, to evaluate cardiopulmonary function) values were measured. The correlation between sleep and memory quality was analyzed using PSQI scores and word pairs via the Pearson correlation coefficients test. Adjusted Cox models were used to explore an interaction between PSQI and ESB exercise.Results: After 12-week exercise intervention, ESB improved sleep quality, latency, duration, disturbance and daytime dysfunction when compared to conventional exercise. In similar cases, the MV values in the EG were also higher than that in the CG (p = 0.009). ESB intervention could not affect the cardiac structure and left ventricular ejection fraction. Compared with the CG, the ESB intervention reduced PSQI scores and increased memorized word pairs (p < 0.001 for poor and normal sleepers in both unadjusted and adjusted analysis, p = 0.012 and 0.003 for poor and normal memory). The test of Pearson correlation coefficients showed that PSQI scores were strongly associated with the number of word pairs in both unadjusted and adjusted analyses (p < 0.0001).Conclusion: Eight-section brocade exercise improved sleep quality and memory consolidation and cardiopulmonary function by reducing PSQI scores, increasing word pairs and MV values in the older adults with AFAS.

Agaricus bisporus distributed in the Tibetan Plateau of China has high-stress resistance that is valuable for breeding improvements. However, its evolutionary history, specialization, and adaptation to the extreme Tibetan Plateau environment are largely unknown. Here, we performed de novo genome sequencing of a representative Tibetan Plateau wild strain ABM and comparative genomic analysis with the reported European strain H97 and H39. The assembled ABM genome was 30.4 Mb in size, and comprised 8,562 protein-coding genes. The ABM genome shared highly conserved syntenic blocks and a few inversions with H97 and H39. The phylogenetic tree constructed by 1,276 single-copy orthologous genes in nine fungal species showed that the Tibetan Plateau and European A. bisporus diverged ∼5.5 million years ago. Population genomic analysis using genome resequencing of 29 strains revealed that the Tibetan Plateau population underwent significant differentiation from the European and American populations and evolved independently, and the global climate changes critically shaped the demographic history of the Tibetan Plateau population. Moreover, we identified key genes that are related to the cell wall and membrane system, and the development and defense systems regulated A. bisporus adapting to the harsh Tibetan Plateau environment. These findings highlight the value of genomic data in assessing the evolution and adaptation of mushrooms and will enhance future genetic improvements of A. bisporus.

Microalgae are regarded as a promising alternative that can replace fishmeal and fish oil in aquaculture. Under N-limitation, many microalgae species change their carbon storage patterns in favor of neutral lipids (NLs) mainly in the form of triacylglycerol (TAG), but fatty acids in polar lipids (PL) are nutritionally more available for fish than those esterified into NLs. In the present study, the effect of N-limitation on the lipid content and fatty acid profiles in different lipid classes of Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Isochrysis aff. galbana clone T-Iso, Rhodomonas baltica, and Nannochloropsis oceanica were investigated. The microalgae cells were cultivated by two different methods, batch and semi-continuous culture, to create strong and moderate N-limitation, and this in turn will significantly affect the biomass and lipid productivity. All four species accumulated lipids mainly in the form of TAG, in response to strong nitrogen limitation. N. oceanica, however, accumulated 51% of the dry weight as lipid in moderate nitrogen limitation and up to 87% of the fatty acid was in TAG. Isochrysis aff. galbana clone T-Iso was the only species where the fraction of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), especially the fraction of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), increased with increasing nitrogen limitation. Total lipid productivity showed no increase in batch culture although stronger nitrogen limitation led to lipid accumulation. P. tricornutum had the highest eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) content, while N. oceanica showed the highest EPA productivity due to the high content of lipid. The highest DHA productivity was found in Isochrysis aff. galbana clone T-Iso from moderate N-limitation, mainly due to the high biomass productivity. Based on the results from the current study, N. oceanica and T-Iso are two promising microalgae strains ass long-term sustainable sources of n-3 long chain -PUFAs under moderate N-limitation. As shown in the present study, increased lipid content in microalgal cells due to strong N-limitation induction may not increase the lipid productivity because biomass production is usually reduced. Therefore, a combination of approaches such as metabolic engineering, conditioning and selection may be needed to further increase the n-3 LC-PUFA productivity without substantial loss of biomass.

Purpose: Epilepsy is a highly disabling neurological disorder. Brain insult is the most critical cause of epilepsy in adults. This study aimed to find reliable and efficient biomarkers for predicting secondary epilepsy.Materials and methods: The LiCl-pilocarpine (LiCl-Pilo) chronic epilepsy rat model was used, and rat cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected 5 days after status epilepticus (SE). The CSF was analyzed using the label-free LC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS. Differential expression of proteins was confirmed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting. The corresponding protein level in the CSF of patients with encephalitis in the postacute phase was determined using ELISA and compared between patients with and without symptomatic epilepsy after encephalitis during a 2-year follow-up.Results: The proteomics and ELISA results showed that the protein level of kininogen (KNG) was obviously elevated in both CSF and hippocampus, but not in serum, 5 days after the onset of SE in LiCl-Pilo chronic epilepsy model rats. In patients with encephalitis, the protein level of KNG in the CSF in the postacute phase was significantly elevated in patients with a recurrent epileptic seizure during a 2-year follow-up than in patients without a recurrent seizure.Conclusion: KNG in the CSF may serve as a potential biomarker for predicting epileptogenesis in patients with encephalitis.

Fibrinogen-like protein 2 (Fgl2) is critical for immune regulation in the inflammatory state. Elevated Fgl2 levels are observed in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but little is known about its functional significance. In this study, we sought to investigate the role of Fgl2 in the development of intestinal inflammation and colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC). Here, we report that Fgl2 deficiency increased susceptibility to dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis and CAC in a mouse model. During colitis development, the expression of the membrane-bound and secreted forms of Fgl2 (mFgl2 and sFgl2, respectively) in the colon were increased and predominantly expressed by colonic macrophages. In addition, using bone marrow chimeric mice, we determined that Fgl2 function in colitis is strictly related to its expression in the hematopoietic cells. Loss of Fgl2 induced the polarization of M1, but suppressed that of M2 both in vivo and in vitro, independent of intestinal inflammation. Thus, Fgl2 suppresses intestinal inflammation and CAC development through its role in macrophage polarization and may serve as a therapeutic target in inflammatory diseases, including IBD.